Day: March 1, 2013

Puroresu Spirit, citing Japanese news reports, says El Nieto del Santo will starting training in the NOAH dojo in May for a debut in Mexico 3 months later. This is Hijo del Santo’s son, who he’s some times referred to as “Santo Jr.” to avoid confusion with Axxel. Hijo del Santo turns 50 on August 2nd. A show that weekend would be the most logical moment for a Nieto del Santo debut. The article mentions Nieto del Santo will be available to wrestle in Japan for NOAH after, but no sense of when or for how long.

Dragon Lee no longer has the toughest job for a luchador. The pressure of being the newest El Santo is a 100x the newest Mistico. El Nieto del Santo is taking on the name of a cultural legend, there’s no comparison. It’s an immensely tough way to start – both Santo and El Hijo del Santo (Korak) wrestled under other names before becoming something. There’s been no sign of Nieto del Santo wrestling prior; it seemed like he was at least a year away from a debut last time it was brought up, making this announcement even more of a surprise and preparation for it more unlikely. It surprises me there was no attempt at sneaking him under another name to IWRG undercards for months to get his feet wet before the announcement. It may have slightly dulled the official debut, but it’d put him in a better chance to succeed to start. Even a poor working Nieto del Santo will be important in lucha libre because of the history of the name, but the money is in one who can work like a star, not someone who’s exposed as not being ready. Unless something’s been kept top secret, Nieto del Santo will have his first match with the brightest spotlight on him.

The plan for him to train in NOAH makes a lot of sense given the circumstances. Nieto needs to get repetitions away from Mexican eyes, and training/working internationally gives him bonus credibility to those who care about those things. Going back to Japan and wrestling infrequently in Mexico at first would be for the best. The Santo name has value in Japan too, and everything needs to be done to keep the new guy special. Santo’s TxT relationships also benefit him – between Solar, Negro Navarro and Black Terry, there’s plenty of people to help train Nieto in Mexico as well, and there’s plenty of guys with slight names who will surely be happy to team with the Heir To The Legend or wager masks with him. Promotional effort will not be a problem here.

I believe this ends the rumors of el Hijo del Santo coming to CMLL in the short term. The goal has to be to make Nieto del Santo the biggest star possible, Nieto del Santo can be treated like more of a star outside of CMLL than within it (CMLL will be prioritizing their own guys, to the extent anyone there looks like a star at all) and Hijo del Santo is not separating from his son. The math changes if Nieto del Santo establishes himself outside of CMLL – maybe some a Hijo del Santo retirement tour combined with Nieto del Santo Arena Mexico debut down the line, or maybe a rehabilitation restart if Nieto doesn’t succeed – but it doesn’t make sense until after Nieto is no longer seen as a novato.

The big show tonight is the AAA Fusion taping in Arena Neza. AAA is beating CMLL at it’s own game, running two tournaments on one night. They’re listed differnetly, but appear to be traditional AAA Spring staples under slightly different names. The AAA Fusion tournament is four fourway matches with a fourway final – that’s the traditional Rey de Reyes tournament structure and might have replaced it’s on the calender if the final is at Rey de Reyes as rumored. The women are in a tournament for the vacant women’s title, which is essentially the 2013 Reina de Reinas tournament just not named as such. (And maybe that’s headed to the Rey de Reyes card too.)

The one Fusion fourway we’re certain on includes Pentagon Jr., Aerostar, Ultimo Gladiador and Juventued Guerrera. Aerostar and Ultimo Gladiador are probably just happy Fusion exists so they can get on TV. Pentagon and Juvi are the favorites; I’m rooting for Pentagon but either one could fit in the final. The other group is a bit of fog. Angelico (returning) and Halloween are scheduled and they’ll be there, but Ricky Marvin is as well and he’s in Germany right now. AAA has not addressed this at all, which is typical, and TVC Deportes has just stopped mentioning Ricky. (AAA’s Facebook plug for this card is highlighted by people sarcastically asking if Ricky will be using transporter technology to make this show.) There’s also a mystery spot in that group; I’ve originally been told it would be a US indy guy making his debut here, but now I’ve separately been told it’s a Mexican making their return. I dunno. There’s two open spots, both could be true, or I could end up totally wrong here. The new guy would normally be a favorite, but there may be three different new guys here. No idea how this will go.

The actual main event is a Rockers vs Psycho Clown main event – should be a Rockers win to set up the next title feud, but we thought that last time and were surprised – but the other important matches on the show are part of the Reinas de Reina tournament. There are four first round matches, with no hint of brackets (or if there’s just a four way final later.) LuFisto makes her debut and should advance past Cinthia Moreno, and it’d be a shock for Faby Apache to lose to Sexy Lady. The other two matches – Mary Apache vs Lolita and new tecnica Jennifer Blake vs Taya Valkyrie – are more unpredictable. LuFisto appears to be here as a tecnica, which means they need two rudas to balance the match, but that’s also no sure thing.

Over in Arena Mexico, the Torneo Increíble de Parejas kicks off. The eight teams include two former tag champion teams (Volador & Sombra and Shocker & Mr. Niebla), three more teams who were recently in title matches against each other (Marco & Kraneo, Maximo & Aguila, Maya & Casas) and one guy who unmasked the other guy (La Mascara & Averno.) That last one seems like the pair least likely to get along enough to win even one match while the two title winning teams seem most likely to win the whole thing. I’m hoping the Voaldor & Sombra team stays intact long enough to go against Mephisto & Mascara Dorada or Negro Casas & Guerrero Maya, since they seem like the best chances for good matches in this format. Volador & Sombra and Shocker & Niebla seem like the favorites based on histories.

The most intriguing part of this tournament is the actually reveal of the second half of the brackets, which might be announced today (and might be changed later!) Atlantis has won this tournament every year they’ve held it, which makes it likely he’ll at least make the final. If last year is an indication of the final, the losing team in the final is destined to have an apuesta match in September, and there’s one person left in CMLL everyone expects Atlantis face for the masks. This is a sort of Groundhog’s Day deal – if you see/hear Atlantis is teaming with Ultimo Guerrero next week, then signs look good for a big 80th Anniversario. If Atlantis is teaming with anyone else, then it’s a long winter (and whoever wins this bracket might be the match instead.)

That is former IWRG mystery man Ricky Cruzz in the semimain as Noriega’s hand picked partner to challenge for the tag team title. It is a small world. I’m completely uncertain where I will be on Sunday, may be here.